[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 185 (Monday, December 5, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H8129-H8130]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         FORT PULASKI NATIONAL MONUMENT LEASE AUTHORIZATION ACT

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (S. 535) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior 
to lease certain lands within Fort Pulaski National Monument, and for 
other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                 S. 535

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Fort Pulaski National 
     Monument Lease Authorization Act''.

     SEC. 2. LEASE AUTHORIZATION.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior (referred to 
     in this section as the ``Secretary'') may lease to the 
     Savannah Bar Pilots Association, or a successor organization, 
     no more than 30,000 square feet of land and improvements 
     within Fort Pulaski National Monument (referred to in this 
     section as the ``Monument'') at the location on Cockspur 
     Island that has been used continuously by the Savannah Bar 
     Pilots Association since 1940.
       (b) Rental Fee and Proceeds.--
       (1) Rental fee.--For the lease authorized by this Act, the 
     Secretary shall require a rental fee based on fair market 
     value adjusted, as the Secretary deems appropriate, for 
     amounts to be expended by the lessee for property 
     preservation, maintenance, or repair and related expenses.
       (2) Proceeds.--Disposition of the proceeds from the rental 
     fee required pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be made in 
     accordance with section 3(k)(5) of Public Law 91-383 (16 
     U.S.C. 1a-2(k)(5)).
       (c) Terms and Conditions.--A lease entered into under this 
     section--
       (1) shall be for a term of no more than 10 years and, at 
     the Secretary's discretion, for successive terms of no more 
     than 10 years at a time; and
       (2) shall include any terms and conditions the Secretary 
     determines to be necessary to protect the resources of the 
     Monument and the public interest.
       (d) Exemption From Applicable Law.--Except as provided in 
     section 2(b)(2) of this Act, the lease authorized by this Act 
     shall not be subject to section 3(k) of Public Law 91-383 (16 
     U.S.C. 1a-2(k)) or section 321 of Act of June 30, 1932 (40 
     U.S.C. 1302).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Hastings) and the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Lujan) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.


                             General Leave

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Washington?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  S. 535 would allow the Savannah Bar Pilots Association to continue 
leasing a facility at Fort Pulaski National Monument as they have done 
since the 1940s.
  Congressman Jack Kingston of Georgia is the author of the House 
version of this bill, H.R. 2687, that the Committee on Natural 
Resources heard in September. The National Park Service testified in 
support, and we are pleased that this is one piece of legislation that 
will not cost the taxpayers a dime.
  So I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. LUJAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. LUJAN. Fort Pulaski was completed in 1812. The Savannah Bar 
Pilots were founded in 1864, and they have had a lease to use part of 
the fort since 1940. It would appear that Congress is a little late in 
getting around to formalizing this arrangement.
  The Bar Pilots provide an invaluable service by protecting the people 
and the cargo entering the Port of Savannah. This has been a good use 
of part of the fort and should continue, so we support the passage of 
S. 535.
  I yield back the balance of my time.

[[Page H8130]]

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of the 
bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, S. 535.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. LUJAN. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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